Aster plant named `Dasfour`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of potted Aster plant named `Dasfour`, characterized by its compact and uniform habit; freely and uniform flowering; daisy-type inflorescences with purple ray florets and yellow disc florets; tolerance to Powdery Mildew; and good post-production longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of pottedAster plant, botanically known as Aster novi-belgii and referred to bythe cultivar name Dasfour.

The new Aster is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new compact potted Asters having desirable floretcolors, uniform plant habit, and uniform flowering.

The new Aster originated from a cross made in 1992 by the Inventor oftwo proprietary Aster seedling selections. The cultivar Dasfour wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, TheNetherlands. The new Aster differs from the parent selections in rayfloret color and is more compact and more freely flowering.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aster by terminal cuttings taken atAalsmeer, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Aster are stable and reproduced true to type in succesivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Dasfour`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Dasfour` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact and uniform habit, excellent for pot plant culture.

2. Freely and uniform flowering.

3. Daisy-type inflorescences with purple ray florets and yellow discflorets. Ray floret color does not fade.

4. Tolerant to Powdery Mildew.

5. Good post-production longevity.

The cultivar Dasfour has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Aster, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Aster. The photograph comprises a top perspective viewof typical flowering plant of the new Aster. Ray floret and leaf colorsin this photograph may appear different than the actual colors due tolight reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In this following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, ina glass-covered greenhouse with average day and night temperatures of 19and 17° C., respectively. Plants received long day/short nighttreatments for the first seven weeks, then short day/long nighttreatments for the next five weeks. Plants were pinched (terminal apicesremoved) two weeks after planting.

Botanical classification: Aster novi-belgii cultivar Dasfour.

Commercial classification: Potted Aster.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Proprietary Aster novi-belgii seedlingselection.

Female or seed parent.--Proprietary Aster novi-belgii seedlingselection.

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.--Summer: About 28 days at a temperature of 20° C.Winter: About 35 days at a temperature of 18° C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous decorative container plant. Compactwith flattened to slightly mounded plant plane; stems upright to outwardforming an inverted triangle. appropriate for 10 to 14-cm containers.Usually about 12 weeks are required to produce a flowering plant.

Branching habit.--Freely branching; pinching enhances branching;typically four lateral branches develop after pinching.

Growth rate.--Relatively slow.

Plant height.--About 25 cm.

Plant width.--About 25 cm.

Lateral branch length.--About 20 cm.

Internode length.--About 1 cm.

Stem color.--147A with slight anthocyanin.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Alternate. Shape: Roughly ovate,narrow; Apex acute; base attenuate; margin slightly serrated. Length,largest leaves: About 10 cm. Width, largest leaves: About 1 cm. Texture:Glabrous, leathery. Color: Young leaves, upper surface: 137A. Youngleaves, lower surface: 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 147A.Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface:147B. Venation, lower surface: 147B.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Daisy inflorescence form. Flattened inflorescences borne onterminals above foliage, arising from leaf axils; inflorescences faceupright. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flower in the latesummer/autumn. At other times of the year, inflorescence initiation anddevelopment can be induced under short day/long night conditions.Response time is about 12 weeks.

Post-production longevity.--Good, inflorescences last about four weekson the plant. Inflorescences persistent.

Quantity of Inflorescences.--Inflorescences form at every leaf axil.Freely, flowering, usually about 55 inflorescences per plant.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.

Bud.--Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.

Ray florets.--Number of rows of ray florets per inflorescence: Usuallytwo. Shape: Oblong; apex acute; base attenuate; margin entire. Length:About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Texture: Satiny, smooth and glabrous.Color: When opening, upper surface: 77A to 77B. When opening, lowersurface: 83D. Mature, upper surface: 77B, color does not fade. Mature,lower surface: 83D.

Disc florets.--Quantity: About 40 per inflorescence. Shape: Tubular;apex dentate. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Color: Immature:7A. Mature: 9B.

Sepals.--Appearance: Leaf-like. Quantity: Several rows. Shape: Linear;apex sharply pointed; margin entire. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color:Upper surface: 137A. Lower surface: 147B.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Angled about 45° to the stem. Strength: Strong.Length: Apical peduncle: About 1 cm. Fourth peducle: About 7 cm. Seventhpeduncle: About 6 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 137A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Pollen:Moderate, 9B in color. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.

Disease resistance: Tolerant to Powdery Mildew.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aster plant named`Dasfour`, as illustrated and described.